Patent GB-191511213-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Cases for Suits of Clothes, Dresses and the like.
Inventor: O'NEILL JOSEPH CORNELIUS
IPC: A45C13/03
Filed: 1915-08-03
Abstract: 11,213. O'Neill, J. C. Aug. 3. Cabinets.-A main or rear member 11, Fig. 1, and a front or top member 12 are hinged to a bottom box-like memher 10, so that they may be closed or folded together or, when extended as shown, hung by a carrying-handle 25 from a hook or supported on the floor, for use in wardrobe fashion. In the folded position for carrying, the side and end walls of the member 11 form continuations of those of the member 10. A member 19, of fabric, is secured at its inner edge to the member 11, and is shirred at 20 to form a series of flexible pockets for toilet articles &c., while bands at the corners of the member 11 serve, when tied together, to hold collars, cuffs, &c. Hangers, on which coats, dresses, &c. are hung, mav be supported on a rod 23, the garments extending down behind partitions 26, 27 and over the member 10. The partition 26 may be of covered veneer or made of skeleton form, with or without a covering, and is removably supported by a series of slotted pieces carried by it snapping, in glove-fastener fashion, into sockets mounted on the member 11. The partitions 26, 27 have rounded edges 35, 36, the edge 35 extending into the member 10. The partition 27 is held by flexible straps &c. at its outer edge to the member 12, either permanently or detachably, and pivoted fingers at its sides are provided to space it, when desired, from the front of the member, a strap 41 limiting outward movement. Straps 42 serve for holding shirts etc.; the space outside the partition 26 may receive various articles of apparel. A device for holding the member 11 with reference to the member 10 in both the open and the closed positions comprises a stay 48, Figs. 1 and 7, pivoted to the member 10 and passing into a casing 43 secured to the member 11, the stay being slotted to be guided on a lug 56 to the positions shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 7, in opening and closing the parts ; in the closed position, a hooked portion of the slot engages the lug and effects a locking action. Unlocking is effected by a pin on a slide 59 operable against a spring by a finger-part 61. The case may have ordinary locks and straps surrounding it for holding the members together. In some cases, the partitions may be of skeleton form with a rounded outer edge consisting of a rod which is spring-connected to the body part. In a modification, the main member of the case may have tapering sides 76, Fig. 12, and the bottom member has end walls 77 adapted to extend over the tapering sides and to be held thereto by hooks and eyes on the respective parts. The main member is reinforced by a skeleton frame having rods for supporting garment-hangers, the frame members being grooved to receive removable vertical and horizontal partitions 94, 96, which form a tray. Further reinforcements consist of strips 98 and a skeleton U-shaped frame 100 with rods 102 permitting hangers or clips to engage the garments hanging from the main member; hinged flaps 103 connected by a strap are also provided. An additional fold may be given to the garments by a hinged wire frame 105. The arrangements described ensure the absence of sharp bending or creasing of the garments in the act of closing the case.